Letters From Lexington: Reflections on Propaganda

The original edition of Letters from Lexington, first published in 1993, solidified Noam Chomsky's position as American's most distinguished critic of the media. In this new, updated edition, a new chapter, 'What makes the Mainstream Media Mainstream', offers Chomsky's latest thinking on the role of the media in a rapidly changing word - especially in justifying US government and corporate actions. Throughout the book, Chomsky's analysis of the politics of the Reagan and earlier Bush administrations offer a striking and surprisingly prescient perspective on the events, key players and policies that shape America's national agenda under the current presidency of George W. Bush and the 'War on Terrorism'. Chomsky explores media coverage of events and issues including the Middle East 'peace process', the US invasion of Panama, the first Gulf War, the UN, the Soviet Union, the coup in Haiti, and democracy and terrorism generally. Letters from Lexington has been called "an indispensable antidote to TV 'news' and the verities found in major daily newspaper such as the New York Times." Perfect as an introduction to Chomsky's thought more generally, it will be of particular interest to students of media studies and anyone who wants an up-to-date account of the relationship of the new US administration with the media and what impact it is having on foreign and domestic US policy.